Story and Photos by Harald Zoschke Calabria is not only the southernmost tip of the Italian boot, it is also one of the hotbeds of European chile pepper culture. So it’s no wonder that — besides plenty of traditional “hot” dishes and products — a highly popular chile pepper festival and even a museum dedicated solely to the hot pods …

Bolivia, 1892 Pimento.—Fruit of a species of Capsicum, and much used in flavoring. There are several varieties, all found in the valleys of Yungas, the most piquant being that called Vlupiqua, having the size and form of a pea, with a red or green color. That called Locoto is the size of a small egg, and is nearly as strong …

by Nancy Gerlach Photos by Norman Johnson; Styling by Denice Skrepcinski Tagines or tajines are wonderfully aromatic North African stews that combine meats, poultry, chicken, or fish with fruits, vegetables and a large variety of spices. The centerpiece of Moroccan meals, there are literally hundreds of traditional tagines as well as many regional variations. Tagine refers to both the stew …

Story and Photos by Sharon Hudgins Balkan food is some of the most complex in Europe. Although firmly rooted in simple peasant cooking, the foods eaten in the Balkans reflect a wide variety of influences over a long period of time: geography and history, ethnicity and religion, wars and invasions, and new ingredients brought from other parts of the world, …